FTSE back in black as Shell shines

Shortly after opening, the index was up 0.8% at 5,691.14. It closed Wednesday down more than 1%. Shell is up 1.5% at £20.06 after the oil giant announced earnings in the third quarter were up 18% on a year ago. Mining firm Kazakhmys advanced 1.1% to £13.36 after confirming another solid quarter of copper production and insisting it remains on course to hit its full year output target. Other stocks performing well include Rio Tinto, ARM Holdings and BHP Billiton. European markets have followed London's lead, with the Cac up 0.77% at 3,844.97 and the Dax up 0.59% at 6,606.93. O...